There are three law schools in Minnesota, and all of them are in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Going to any of them means you’ll experience life in the big city, but still be just a short drive from the beautiful, lake-dotted countryside of the state. If you’re into archaeology, you also won’t be far from the Jeffers Petroglyphs site, which has ~5,000 rock carvings made by precontact Native Americans. And if you’re a music fan, you can plan a day trip to Bob Dylan’s hometown! The music legend is from Hibbing, just a few hours north of Minneapolis-St. Paul.
The following review has key information about each of the law schools in the North Star State, including what it takes to be a competitive applicant. The schools are ranked based on data obtained from U.S News & World Report.
Top Law Schools in Minnesota
1. University of Minnesota
U.S. News Law School Ranking: #22
Tuition: $51,440 (in-state) $61,884 (out-state)
Median Undergrad GPA of Program Entrants: 3.88
Median LSAT Score of Program Entrants: 171
Acceptance Rate: 26.7%
First-Time Bar Passage Rate: 94.1%
First on our list of law schools in Minnesota is the University of Minnesota Law School. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota Law is within walking distance of the federal courthouse and many of the top law firms in the city. This school is known for introducing first-year law students to real legal work early in their training. That emphasis on real-world legal experience continues throughout their time in law school. By the time students graduate, they are uniquely prepared to practice law.
According to U.S. News and World Report, the University of Minnesota Law School comes in at:
- #16 in Contracts/Commercial Law
- #19 in Clinical Training and #19 in Constitutional Law
- #20 in Criminal Law
- #24 in International Law
- #25 in Environmental Law
Curriculum
In their first academic year, Minnesota Law students build their lawyer chops by engaging in mock classroom exercises, which enable them to develop important legal skills such as alternative dispute resolution.
The Civil Litigation course helps a student develop the tactics and strategies needed to work a case. Evidence Drafting enables them to learn trial advocacy. They’re taught how to draft effective motions and advocate them in court when the admissibility of evidence is contested.
Trial Practice is a more personalized course taught by trial court judges and expert lawyers. Students learn different tactics and methods of persuasion. At the end of the course, law students will be in a simulated trial before a real judge.
The aim of all classes is to improve a student’s transactional lawyering skills, like drafting and writing agreements.
Dual Degree Options
The following dual degree tracks are available:
- J.D./Master of Business Administration
- J.D./Master of Public Policy
- J.D./Master of Public Health
- J.D./M.D.
- J.D./Master of Arts in Mass Communication
- J.D/Ph.D. in a variety of programs
Degree Concentrations
Minnesota Law students can also earn degree concentrations in:
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Business Law
- Civil Litigation
- Criminal Justice
- Environmental & Energy Law
- Family Law
- Health Rights and Bioetchics
- Human Rights Law
- Immigration Law
- Intellectual Property & Technology Law
- International Law
- Labor and Employment Law
Experiential Learning
Minnesota Law students engage in a lot of experiential learning exercises. They interview clients, negotiate, prepare arguments for court cases, and sharpen their skills through immersive experiences.
Under the Supervised Practice Rule, the Minnesota Supreme Court allows students under the supervision of Minnesota Law faculty to represent clients in court.
The University of Minnesota has 25+ legal clinics, which are divided into five categories:
- Business and Nonprofit
- Economic Justice
- Family and Community
- Human Rights and Immigration
- Rights and Liberties
More than half of Minnesota Law students work in at least one of the legal clinics on campus.
Externships
Minnesota Law has an extensive Corporate Externship Field Program, which allows students to be placed in a company’s legal department. As a result, they get to witness firsthand the working of an in-house counsel. Students earn one credit for every 50 hours completed during the semester.
With these corporate opportunities, students can attend meetings and events with top executives. They can network and build lifelong professional relationships.
Field Projects
Minnesota Law students can also participate in projects that focus on specific areas of the law, such as intellectual property, SEC filings, finance, codes of conduct, and more.
If you’re intent on becoming a trial attorney, the Intercollegiate Mock Trial Team is something you’ll want to consider joining. You’ll be given a simulated case file to make arguments and enhance your skills by making opening and closing statements, cross-examining, and directing the witnesses.
Student Organizations
Finally, Minnesota Law has a number of student organizations you can join! Some of them include (the):
- Animal Legal Defense Fund
- Asylum Law Project
- Criminal Justice League
- Entertainment, Media, and Arts Law Club
- Fighting Mondales Ice Hockey
- Health Law and Bioethics Association
- Law & Economic Student Society
- Law School Armed Forces Association
- Space Law Society
- Theatre of the Relatively Talentless
Summary
The University of Minnesota Law School is one of the top 25 law programs in the country, and the school’s admissions standards are (not surprisingly) pretty high. The median undergraduate GPA and LSAT score of program entrants last year were 3.88 and 171, respectively. Keep this one in mind if you’re interested in contracts/commercial law, clinical training, constitutional law, or criminal law.
2. University of St. Thomas
U.S. News Law School Ranking: #105
Tuition: $50,998
Median Undergrad GPA of Program Entrants: 3.72
Median LSAT Score of Program Entrants: 159
Acceptance Rate: 57.6%
First-Time Bar Passage Rate: 74.7%
Next on our list of law schools in Minnesota is the University of Saint Thomas School of Law. Located in downtown Minneapolis, this Catholic institution trains students to practice law in a way that’s consistent with their faith and ethical principles. Graduates view the legal profession not as just a way to earn a living, but a way to search for truth through a focus on morality and social justice.
According to U.S. News and World Report, the University of Saint Thomas School of Law comes in at:
- #28 in Legal Writing
- #42 in Clinical Training
- #86 in Constitutional Law
- #92 in Business/Corporate Law
- #98 in Contracts/Commercial Law
Curriculum
First-year fall classes include Civil Procedure, Contracts, Lawyering Skills I, Torts, and Moral Reasoning for Lawyers. In the Spring, students take Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Lawyering Skills II, Property, and Serving Clients Well.
Dual Degree Options
Students can earn the following dual degrees at the University of St. Thomas:
- J.D./Master of Business Administration
- J.D./Master of Social Work
- J.D./Master of Arts in Catholic Studies
Degree Concentrations
The University of St. Thomas has degree concentrations in:
- Immigration Law
- Law, AI, & Evolving Technologies
- Organizational Ethics and Compliance
Experiential Learning
There are nine legal clinics you can join to get some real-world experience while you’re in school.
These include (the):
- Appellate Clinic
- Criminal and Juvenile Defense Clinic
- Federal Communications Clinic
- Immigration Law Practice Group
- Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic
- Religious Liberty Appellate Clinic
- Small Business and Transactional Law Clinic
- Special Education Clinic
- Trademark Clinic
Externships
Students can take part in the following externships:
Judicial
Participating in this externship allows students to learn about the roles of judges, law clerks, and attorneys while working under the supervision of a state or federal judge.
Fredrikson and Byron Public Interest Externship
This externship gives students the opportunity to work pro bono at a public interest organization or government agency in service of the poor or other marginalized members of society.
Business
Students enrolled in this externship have an opportunity to gain hands-on experience working in a corporate or organizational environment.
Misdemeanor Defense
Participating in this externship gives students the chance to get some good experience in the criminal justice system. They interview clients, negotiate cases, and represent clients in court under the supervision of a public defender.
Student Organizations
The University of Saint Thomas has plenty of student organizations you can join to meet people who share your passion for a particular area of the law.
Among them are (the):
- American Constitution Society
- Animal Legal Defense Fund
- Bike Club
- Environmental Law Society
- Family Law Society
- New Lawyers Association
- Older, Wiser Law Students (OWLS)
- Pickleball Club
- Space Law Society
- Special Olympics Club
Summary
The median undergrad GPA of program entrants last year was 3.72, so the University of Saint Thomas School of Law isn’t easy to get into. That said, the median LSAT score of new students was 159, so keep this one in mind if you have high grades but didn’t do quite as well on the LSAT. This is a great school to apply to if you’d like to focus on legal writing and are interested in how faith can shape your legal career.
3. Mitchell Hamline School of Law
U.S. News Law School Ranking: #152
Tuition: $56,300
Median Undergrad GPA of Program Entrants: 3.29
Median LSAT Score of Program Entrants: 154
Acceptance Rate: 51.4%
First-Time Bar Passage Rate: 71%
Rounding off our list of law schools in Minnesota is the Mitchell Hamline School of Law. Located in Saint Paul, this school was created in 2015 through the merger of the Wlliam Mitchell College of Law and the Hamline University School of Law. Today, this law school is a major player in the legal world of Minnesota, and has an alumni network of more than 20,000 graduates, the largest in the region.
According to U.S. News and World Report, the Mitchell Hamline School of Law comes in at:
- #7 in Dispute Resolution
- #29 in Clinical Training and #29 in Healthcare Law
- #37 in Part-Time Law
- #48 in Legal Writing
- #79 in Intellectual Property Law
Curriculum
In their first year of law school, students take a number of legal foundation courses, including Torts, Criminal Law, Contracts, Property, Advanced Legal Reasoning, and Civil Dispute Resolution.
Dual Degree Options
Mitchell Hamline students can earn the following dual degrees:
- J.D./Master of Business Administration
- J.D./Master of Public Administration
- J.D./Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
- J.D./Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children
Degree Concentrations
Students can also pursue concentrations in conflict resolution and healthcare compliance. These are offered online and have start dates throughout the year.
Experiential Learning
The Mitchell Hamline School of Law has a number of clinics students can enroll in to get some real-world experience.
Among them are (the):
- Business Law Clinic
- Child Protection Clinic
- Criminal Appeals and Postconviction Clinic
- Economic Inclusion Clinic
- Health Law Clinic
- Immigration Clinic
- Innocence Clinic
- Intellectual Property Clinic (Patent and Trademark)
- Native Law Clinic
- Wrongful Conviction and Sentencing Clinic
Centers and Institutes
Students can participate in a number of centers and institutes at Hamline, including (the):
Center for Law and Business
Students enrolled at this center gain practical experience on how to succeed as business managers, leaders, and attorneys.
Dispute Resolution Institute
Participating in this center allows students to learn the art of negotiation, engage in creative problem solving, foster mutual understanding, and identify party interests.
Health Law Institute
Faculty at this center train students, health care attorneys, business professionals, and practitioners on the intricacies of health care law.
Intellectual Property Institute
Students in this center learn the details of intellectual property law and have access to innovators at 3M, Medtronic, Cargill, and other companies in the region.
Native American Law and Sovereignty Institute
This center supports law students who are Native American or have an interest in Native American law. Students help native tribes maintain their homelands and enforce treaty obligations.
Student Organizations
Finally, there are dozens of student organizations you can join at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law.
Among them are (the):
- AI in Law and Practice Society
- Alternative Dispute Resolution Society
- Business Law Society
- Environmental Law Society
- Federal Bar Association—Student Division
- Health Law Society
- Self-Help Clinic
- Sports and Entertainment Law Society
- Student Intellectual Property Law Association
- Tax Law Society
Summary
The Mitchell Hamline School of Law may have lower admissions standards than the other two schools on our list, but you’ll still need a GPA around 3.29 and an LSAT score of about 154 to be a competitive applicant. This school is an especially good choice if you’re interested in dispute resolution, clinical training, or health care law.
How do I get into one of the law schools in Minnesota?
Whether you’re applying to law schools in Minnesota or another part of the country, the process is the same. The first step in the law school admissions timeline is to take the LSAT. Although there are no required LSAT scores for law school, all of them have median LSAT scores that give you a pretty good indication of how you compare to their previous incoming class.
Remember, law schools want to attract the best of the best, so make sure you give yourself the ultimate shot by getting a high LSAT score.
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